Courser, Gamrat Face Felony Charges Over Affair

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says two former lawmakers were charged Friday with felony misconduct in office, after their extramarital affair snowballed into a political scandal when one of them concocted a bizarre cover story about being caught with a male prostitute.

Schuette said former Republican state Rep. Todd Courser faces three counts of misconduct in office, a felony that is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Schuette said Courser also was charged with perjury for lying to lawmakers under oath, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Former Rep. Cindy Gamrat faces two charges of misconduct.

"It's called trust. It's called judgment. It's called honesty," Schuette said at a news conference. "But Representatives Courser and Gamrat, sadly, failed to serve their constituents in an honorable fashion ... worse yet ... they broke the law."

The charges were filed Friday in Ingham County District Court. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from Courser and Gamrat.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.